Throughout this article, we will focus on how to implement a vegetarian ketogenic diet that includes eggs and dairy. (No meat, fish, or poultry products will be recommended at all.) On the other hand, if you want to eliminate all animal products for your ketogenic diet, then you will find much better suggestions — like a complete list of dairy and egg alternatives — in our comprehensive guide to the vegan ketogenic diet.

Happy Valentine’s Day! What’s that, you say? I should have posted this before the actual day, so you could make them today? Yeah, that would have been better, but that’s just not where my life is at right now. Anyway, I’ve really been in the mood for red velvet flavored things lately, and these vegan keto red velvet cupcakes just so happen to fit the bill. (more…)
The keto food plan places the frame into the fat-burning country of ketosis and calls for followers to supply eighty to 90 percentage in their each day energy from fats, five to fifteen percentage from protein, and five to 10 percentage from carbs. Most Americans get about half of of their daily energy from carbs, so this is a prime shift from the typical American food plan.

For anyone following any vegan diet, and athletes especially, the question always comes up: “How do you get enough protein?” Nelson recommends about 0.7g of protein per pound of your goal body weight as a baseline daily intake for active people—and most nutritionists recommend up to one gram per pound if you’re weight training. (Goal body weight means the amount you want to weigh—not the number that currently comes up on the scale. So, if you weigh 205 pounds but remember looking and feeling your best when you weighed 175, eat 0.7g of protein x 175, or about 120 grams daily.)

Many dieters get so bored with bland “diet” foods they end up eating more of them to feel fulfilled. Instead of eating for quantity, focus on the quality of your food. “You may notice that the first few tastes of the food are the most satisfying—your taste buds are on high alert,” says Steinmetz. “Buying small quantities of high quality food and concentrating on taste will help you savor small bites. Stop after the first four bites so that your taste is not ‘saturated’, and then try a different food.”
As, yes, the age-old question: but where do you get your protein? If you’ve been plant-based for any amount of time, you’ve likely heard this asked in at least five different ways. At least here in North America, it seems as though people really struggle to wrap their heads around the idea that you can get enough protein without eating meat, dairy or eggs. This issue becomes especially pronounced when we talk about vegan keto diets.
You tell yourself you're not going to order dessert, but the minute you see the fudgy chocolate cake delivered to the table next to you, all your good intentions go out the door. To help you ward off temptations, Abbey Sharp, RD, a nutrition consultant in Toronto, recommends having a treat waiting at home. "Before you go out to eat, put aside a portion-controlled sweet for yourself at home, like a small cookie or a square of melted dark chocolate with fresh berries," says Sharp. Or try whipping up a dessert for the entire family, like a light angel food cake with fresh berries, that will give everyone something to look forward to.
Look for your weight loss results after a few weeks of dieting and exercise, but be kind and patient with yourself. Each person's body is unique and the rate at which you lose weight may be different than it is for someone else. Stay consistent and remind yourself of the many benefits of reaching and maintaining a healthy weight so that you stay motivated for the duration of your journey.
In our sandwich-with-a-side-of-bread culture, cutting carbs down to the wire trips many people up. “Exact numbers vary person to person, but in general, strict keto dieters need to consume less than 50 grams of carbs a day,” says exercise physiologist Michael T. Nelson, Ph.D. (miketnelson.com). “Some people need to go as low as 30 grams.” The Mod Keto approach allows two to three times as many, but it’s still very low-carb compared to the diet of the average American. (For reference, one banana, one apple, or a single slice of bread would put you over your daily carb allowance on a strict keto diet.) #ketones
The first few days of switching to a ketogenic diet sucks. You'll feel hunger pangs, cravings, grumpy and probably suffer flu-like symptoms. You may even feel light-headed, sometimes. There are a number of reasons for this, including changes in gut biota, as various colonies are "screaming at you" for food, but mainly as your body initially will be looking for a quick glucose energy source, before switching metabolic states and preferring ketones, instead. This takes some patience and discipline.
Dominic D’Agostino, Ph.D., one of the world’s foremost ketogenic diet researchers and founder of ketonutrition.org, agrees. “I generally avoid soy isolate and soy milk,” he says. “But I don’t think this is a major concern unless you are consuming large amounts of soy.” Note that fermented soy products—such as soy sauce and tempeh—don’t pose the same risk, and can, therefore, be eaten more liberally.
Plate sizes have certainly changed over the years, increasing in diameter just like our waistlines. Our great grandmother's dinner plates looked like today's salad plates. “We're all visual, and it's so much easier to eat the right portion and feel satisfied when we eat on smaller plates,” says Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD, holistic nutrition coach in Virginia. If you’re eating in a restaurant that's using plates the size of manhole covers, try ordering your own salad or appetizer and sharing a main dish. When dining out alone, ask the server to wrap half your dish in a doggy bag before it's served, and enjoy the rest on a smaller appetizer plate — you'll never know what you're missing!
This one's kind of sneaky and a little difficult too, depending on your current dietary preference. If you're vegetarian, it's likely that a large portion of your diet is attributed to grains and beans like quinoa, rice, and lentils. According to Smith, these foods contain too many carbohydrates and not enough protein to make them foundational foods for following a keto diet. So instead of eating a quinoa bowl or a stir-fry on a bed of white rice, try making a keto-friendly vegetarian lasagna (head to our sister site MyDomaine for the recipe).
The health benefits of vegan and vegetarian diets are well-documented; in fact, cutting meat out of your diet has been linked to many health benefits, including a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease. (5) Plus, just like regular keto, vegan keto results in some pretty impressive benefits as well, ranging from increased weight loss to improved heart health. (6)
Something like this green omelet is a perfect breakfast for a vegetarian keto diet! If you want to try another option, check out this breakfast casserole – just leave out the meat! This zucchini casserole is also a crowd favorite – simply omit the bacon! Eggs aren’t just for breakfast, so if you’re feeling a little devilish, give this deviled egg recipe a try – again, sans bacon. It’s eggs-actly what the doctor ordered.
Apologies for the adverts, I am working on other ways to cover costs. I use adverts so all my content will remain free here on my website. I am working o another website with no adverts, but that will have to be a membership site to cover costs. I try to cut them back to the minimum. I also refuse sponsored posts so you can trust what I say and recommend, rather than what I am paid for, this alone costs me tens of thousands each year but I feel it is worth it for my reputation. I’m rambling now aren’t I? Anyway, apologies and I’ll try to cut then back even further 🙂
Dr. Axe recommends getting no more than 20 percent of your daily calories from plant-based sources of proteins, since eating too much protein will interfere with ketosis. “Most beans and legumes will contribute too many carbs to your diet and too little protein,” he says. “The best sources of low-carb protein are plant-based protein powders (like hemp, brown rice, or pea protein) and fermented soy products like tempeh.” Other plant-based sources of protein in your diet can include nutritional yeast, nuts and seeds, and even vegetables.
Most of the studies about ACV have been done on animals—or in really small groups of people, explains Eliza Whetzel-Savage, R.D., a registered dietitian at Middleburg Nutrition in New York City. “There is one study of people that showed ACV may slow digestion of food and liquid, which may help stabilize blood sugar,” she says. “But overall, there is not much science to support many of the claims.”

Not only that, but increasing your intake of healthy fats and protein while reducing your intake of empty carbs can help ensure that you’re getting all of the essential nutrients that you need with none of the added ingredients and chemicals that you don’t. Studies have also shown that a higher intake of fat and protein can suppress your appetite and lower levels of ghrelin, the hunger hormone, more effectively than carbohydrates. (3, 4)

“As a mother of four children over the last 12 years I’ve not devoted much time to myself, and as a result I developed issues with weight. I’ve tried many things but the weight would always creep back on. I’d seen Samantha’s flyers for almost a year before I contacted her, it’s only been two weeks since our first meeting, and I’ve already seen so many changes in both my body and my lifestyle, ** I'VE ALREADY LOST 8 lbs.! ** She is a personal “Instructor”, teaching you how to weight-train and healthier eating as a lifestyle. Samantha not only shows you what’s given her success, but also explains the mechanics behind the exercise and food. She’s great!” * Lori
“If you are considering starting any kind of ketogenic diet, you should discuss it first with your doctor. The diet may be harmful if you have existing kidney, liver, or heart disease. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure and are on medications, you should be in close contact with your physician to monitor changes and adjust medications as needed,” Vizthum says.
"I always told myself that once things slowed down at work, I’d try to lose weight. The only problem was that work never slowed down. After being overweight for several years, I finally decided to take action, but had no idea how to begin. I thought it would be a long and difficult process to slim down. Luckily, I was wrong. It turned out to be much easier than I expected and I have now lost over 40 pounds!
“The original keto diet is extremely high in fatty meats, which is not good for our cardiovascular system,” says Melissa Bailey, RD, creator of the Nourished Fork. “The vegetarian version eliminates these meats and allows for more plant-based options, such as avocado and nuts and seeds. In general, the population is going towards a more plant-based, whole-foods diet, which is why the ketotarian diet is emerging.”
By this point you’ve probably been hearing that buzzword around your neighborhood, family, social media or workplace – “keto”. The word is simply short for the ketogenic diet, growing incredibly in the last few years for its powerful ability to help one increase their brain clarity, increase their energy and all the while, decrease their body fat (read more about it here). Many are drawn to its high-fat low-carb ways that allow bacon and eggs to be a part of their regular intake. However, that makes it a challenging diet to adhere to when you’re part of a vegan or plant-based lifestyle. Good news is, it’s a misconception that this is a meat-based diet. The keto diet, while focused on taking in a low amount of carbs and high amount of fats, it’s also dependent on a steady flow of good proteins, as well. Vegans have been thriving for decades with protein alternatives to meat, and fat alternatives to dairy, therefore, the keto diet is no exception. Regardless, many feel lost when trying to even wrap their heads around doing a vegan keto diet, so we are taking a look today at some key foods that are both vegan, and keto diet approved!

With Samantha’s personal training, I feel freer than I’ve ever felt before. I’ve learned so much and I’ve become so self-sufficient that I will never again be a slave to bad eating habits or laziness. What’s even better is that, as my health has improved, I’ve found that I enjoy cycling more now than at any other time in my life. Thank you Samantha for your help and your support, I truly couldn’t have accomplished so much in so little time without you!"

In case you are feeling overwhelmed after looking at all these delicious plant based keto recipes and you don’t know where to start or what to make, I thought it would be helpful to share my ideal daily vegan keto diet meal plan with you. If I were following this diet then this is exactly what I would make for a few day’s worth of meals. The portions are enough for a few days so you only have to cook once!

Feeling positive about the future, rather than focusing on the past or present, is more likely to lead you toward a healthier snack, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Consumer Research. Instead of rewarding your happiness with a candy bar in the moment (or eating one for comfort), focus on the future outcome (like a healthier, lighter you) so you’ll make better choices in the present.
Plate sizes have certainly changed over the years, increasing in diameter just like our waistlines. Our great grandmother's dinner plates looked like today's salad plates. “We're all visual, and it's so much easier to eat the right portion and feel satisfied when we eat on smaller plates,” says Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD, holistic nutrition coach in Virginia. If you’re eating in a restaurant that's using plates the size of manhole covers, try ordering your own salad or appetizer and sharing a main dish. When dining out alone, ask the server to wrap half your dish in a doggy bag before it's served, and enjoy the rest on a smaller appetizer plate — you'll never know what you're missing!
You might be wondering why we calculate net carbs instead of total carbs. The reason is simply because our bodies don't transform fiber into sugar the way they do for other carbs. In actuality, some keto experts say that even having too many carbs from fiber can knock you out of ketosis. In order to get around the carb rules, some companies make keto food using sugar alcohols, which don't fall under the sugar or the dietary fiber categories.
kidney problems (kidney failure). Saxenda® may cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea leading to loss of fluids (dehydration). Dehydration may cause kidney failure, which can lead to the need for dialysis. This can happen in people who have never had kidney problems before. Drinking plenty of fluids may reduce your chance of dehydration. Call your health care provider right away if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that does not go away, or if you cannot drink liquids by mouth
By being aware of the things you might be deficient in, you could (and should) load up on foods that are rich in those nutrients, such as cheese for vitamin B12, eggs for vitamin D, and leafy greens like kale for calcium. If you are interested in trying keto without eating meat, Mass also recommends easing up on how strict of a vegetarian you are and eating fish if you don’t already since it’s a great source of omega-3s and protein.

Take the cauliflower florets and roll them in the dry mixture to coat them and place them in the hot ghee. Cover the pan with a lid and cook the cauliflower florets on medium high heat for 5-6 minutes. Turn them and add the remaining ghee. Lower the heat and cook for another 6-7 minutes. Remove the pakoras from the pan. You can cook the remaining cauliflower pakoras in the similar manner.

That depends. Mass says if going keto motivates an unhealthy vegetarian to clean up his or her carb game, it could be beneficial and lead to better blood sugar control. Plus, transitioning from a pasta-heavy diet to one that’s rich in veggies and healthy fats should help someone drop unwanted pounds, she says. But for vegetarians who eat relatively clean already and rely on healthy carbs like quinoa and oats — which are limited on the keto diet — to help them feel full, adopting low-carb keto might be overly restrictive.
Coconut butter comes in a jar as a solid substance, but when melted slightly in the microwave and mixed together, it has a taste and texture reminiscent of a frosting. In a room temperature environment, it becomes solid once again. Whether you simply enjoy it off the spoon, or as the icing on a keto cookie, this is one food that is not to be missed out on.

Hi Tom, thanks for your comment. Carrots and onions are okay in a keto diet as long as they are eaten in moderation. Obviously, I am not saying this chili should be eaten everyday if you are on keto. It is fine if you are having it once in a while and watching your carb intake throughout the day. The canned tomatoes I used do not have any added sugar or additives so that is okay. Thanks for your comment and I am in no way trying to lie to my viewers.

I just found your site this morning and I subscribed so I’ll receive your emails now. I’m getting the hang of low carb cooking, I just need fresh ideas. I’m not a full vegetarian but I am cutting out most meats. Also, I limit my gluten intake. Gluten makes me so bloated. My biggest challenge is getting enough protein at every meal. I’m looking forward to trying your recipes.

A fast includes any period of time in which you consume 0 calories. This includes drinks, snacks, and all of that. In addition to water, coffee and tea are extremely common drinks that you can rely on during a fast. The two drinks’ caffeine works as an appetite suppressant while allowing consumption of some type during the fast. The key with drinking during a fast is to not include any milk, cream, or sugar (unless it’s one of the keto-friendly sugar alternatives and is calorie-free).

Living a keto lifestyle doesn't mean you need to skip out on yummy treats. These 15 delicious keto cookies are proof! Whether you're looking for a keto twist on the classic chocolate chip recipe or the best keto cookie recipe for your Christmas cookie exchange, you're sure to find a recipe that perfectly fits your sweet tooth and low carb requirements.

That said, a recurring mistake among vegetarians who go keto is incorporating too many vegetable-based carbohydrates, without even realizing. You’ve got to be quite vigilant of all your carb and protein sources following a vegetarian keto diet meal plan, as most vegetarians tend to source their protein from foods like legumes and grains, which aren’t supported on the vegetarian keto diet. If you’re following a diet that’s strictly plant-based, then you’ll have to be even more mindful.